Frequently Asked Questions

No external software is required to use POLYAS. POLYAS works as a purely Internet-based application.

The voter only needs an Internet connection and an email account. Online voting works regardless of the operating system (Windows, MAC OS, Linux) and regardless of the browser (Firefox, Safari, etc.) or the device used (PC, tablet or smartphone): online voting is available to anyone, anywhere.

The high user-friendliness of POLYAS' Onling Voting system makes it very easy for even inexperienced Internet users to vote online. Voting is carried out in five steps - at every step we've included easy to understand explanations and help texts to make the voting experience as simple as possible.

Eligible voters receive an email containing their login details as well as the Internet address through which they can access the online voting system. The data is retrieved automatically on the election system's website and anonymised after voters have entered their login details.

The digital ballot paper is then displayed and the voter can cast his or her vote with the click of a mouse.
The completed ballot will appear again for confirmation before the vote is officially cast.

In the POLYAS online voting system, voters login to the election system using two credentials: the voter ID and a one-time password.

Whilst the voter ID is taken directly from the electoral roll, the password is created automatically through secure algorithms. When logging into the online voting system, a token is generated from the voter ID to create a one-time password which ensures that voters remain anonymous.

A frequently used method of identification utilises a voter ID and a password: the voter is approved by combining a personal identification number, for example a membership or employee number, and a password generated by the system which is known only to the individual voter.

The voter logs on with the ID and password combination.
The voter can log into the online voting system with the ID and password combination any number of times - but can only cast one valid vote. The vote requires that the voter has a token. Once the vote has been cast the token is deleted - thus preventing voters from casting unauthorised additional votes.

The login details of the voter are generated automatically according to certain security algorithms and can for security reasons not be created manually later. Therefore, it isn't possible to send voters a new password.

For security reasons, the components of the POLYAS online voting system are stored in various German data centres. We also make regular back-ups of the elections to ensure a permanent, safe and secure vote.

After you have created and configured your election, the election is "sealed" by the system. Once an election is sealed, all security parameters are activated and the data is distributed to the ballot box, the electoral roll, the validator and the election administrator. These sub-systems are each protected individually and only communicate through encryption.

Once an election is "sealed" it is backed up and can no longer be edited.